Window sash operator and lock



Jan. 30, 1951 c. E. FULLER 2,539,822

WINDOW SASH OPERATOR AND LOCK Filed Sept. 16, 1947 s Sheets-Sheec 1 '3 Fig.

Ghar/es E. Fuller Jan. 30, 1951 c. E. FULLER 2,539,822

WINDOW SASH OPERATOR AND LOCK Filed Sept. 16, 1947 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor Charles E. Fuller Jan. 30, 1951 c. E. FULLER 2,539,822

WINDOW SASH OPERATOR AND LOCK Filed Sept. 16, 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 I u uen lor Charles E. Fuller Patented Jan. 30, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE "'WINDOW snsn OPERATOR AND LOCK Charisse. Fuller, Dothan, Ala;

Application'septernber 16, 1947', seriaiNo 774,191 v -6'Claims.

, This inventionrelates. toudevices for raisin and lowering Vertically :slidable window sashes andior locking them'in'adjusted positions. :The primary object of the present invention is :to provide a deviceof the above kind which is simple in construction, efiicient in operation; and

easy to use or operate.

p More specifically, theq present"invention contemplates a device of the above kindembodying a shaft journalled-in ;the;:upper member 'of and extending from sideto'side of the window frame,

sash suspension ropes adapted to be wound upon opposite end portions'ofsaid shaft and connected to the tQpOf the associated sash respectively near opposite sideslof the latteiya pulley on one end ;of the shaft an endless operating cable passed around said pulley and d'ependingat the insideof a side member of the windowj frameto provide :a first-strand adapted to be-"pulled-to'raise the sachand a secondstia'nd to. control lowering of the sash, and means for normally preventing rotation of theshaftin one direction and consequent unwinding of the suspensionropes therefrom so as to lockthesash inadjusted position against lowering, said means being releasable by a pull on the second strand to permit the sash to lower.

Another object of-the invention is to provide spring pressed dogs for normally-locking the lower sash against being raised, the suspension ropes for said lower sash being'engaged with said dogs so as to: automatically release-the latter when said suspension ropes are. wound "open their shaft -toraise thelower sash:

Other. morespecific objects and features of the invention will become apparentfrom the following description when considered 'in connectionwith the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure lis a view-partlyin elevationand partly broken away andin vertical section; of a "window equipped with sash operating and locking means constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure -12 is: a horizontal section-taken-on line 2-2- of Figure 1. 1 v

Figure 3 is a fragmentary vertical-sectiontaken 4013 line 3'-3-of=.F-i g-ure 2. I

Figure 4 isaviewsimilar to Figure-li with the shaft shifted to. permit the associated sash *to lower.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary-vertiearsectioni taken von line- 595- of Figure z.

Figure 6 is an enlarged sectional detailed view showing oneof the locking dogs associated with the lower sash.

Figure 7 is-a fragmentary view .partly-in eleva- Initted.

'tion and; partly in section on lineol'l =of Figure 5;

Figure-8 is-a fragmentary vertical section taken on line 8-=:-8of=Figu=re l.- )Figure '9 is arperspective View; partly broken away, of the-mounting for-the'shafts ran-which "the sash;suspension;ropesarewound.

Figure 10* is" an enlarged: perspective view of one ofthe locking dogs for the'lower sash.

Referring in detail-to the drawings, F indicates :a window frame having verticallyslidable lower "and "upperashes Sand S- therein --The franie 2F has a hollow top membei vvithin which-is fixed a shaft mount thatextends from side to -side rear extensible shaft I 3. The shafts can l3 havereduced ends journalled in the bearing brackets," and each may consist of tubular end sections into "whichare-telescopedopposite ends of intermediate sections 1 4- to permit adjustment of the shafts 'asto length' corresponding to the adjustment of" the mountwM; A 'drum- I5'-and:a pulley were secured on oneend of-shait- I 0, and a pulley I1 is "secured on the'other end-of shaft l3, *PiVGfiCi; at its lower end to the bracket 'Qas'at l8 is-a link 19 inthe upper endcf'which is journalled the end of shaft- !Ei which carries the pulley H5. *Brackets carries-2i stop lug 2B which limits forward swinging of link I 9 y to a position'wherein the same is-ata forwardinclination-as shown in Figure 4. Fixed to the back of thewindowirame-is apointed pawl 2i arranged to engage the periphery of pulley i5 and prevent counterclockwise, rotation thereof as viewed in Figures Band 4 whensaid drum isin its normal rearwardly shifted A position :of Figure 3. -It willbe understood that this endof vshaft lfi maymcve rearwardlydue to looselrnounting of the opposite-end of shaft H] in bracket 8; and the'parts gravitate rearwardly to theposition of Figure 3 so as to normally-assume such position.

.When the pulley "1'6 and the adjacent end of shaft it is shifted forwardly-as shown, in Figure -3, said pulley l6 disengaged from pawl 2| and freerotation Ofj lTTB-pUHGY andlshaft It is per- Attachedto .anfi'adapted to be wound upon the opposite end-portions of shaft Ill when the latter is rotated in a clockwise direction as viewed in Figure 3, are sash suspension ropes 22 that are extended downwardly through the mount M and the top member of frame F and connected with the top of lower sash S near opposite sides of the latter. Passed several turns about the pulley I is an endless operating cable 23 that is extended forwardly through the inner side of frame F and then depends at the inside of the adjacent side member of the window frame to provide two strands a and b. The arrangement is such that when the strand a is pulled, the adjacent end of shaft I8 is moved forwardly from the position of Figure 3 to the position of Figure 4 so as to disengage the pulley l6 from pawl 2 I, and to simultaneously rotate shaft [0 in a direction to wind the ropes 22 thereon and cause the lower sash S to be raised. By pulling on both of the strands but exerting a slightly greater pull on strand 1), the pulley I6 may be maintained out of engagement with pawl 2| and opposite rotation of shaft 13 permitted for allowing the lower sash S to lower. As soon as both strands a and b are released, the pulley I6 will move with the adjacent end of shaft If! in a rearward direction from the position of Figure 4 to the position of Figure 3 so that pawl 2! engages said pulley I8 and prevents unwinding of ropes 22 to maintain the lower sash in any desired open position to which it may be adjusted. This simply prevents further lowering of the lower sash when desired, but means is provided to prevent raising of the lower sash unless the ropes 22 are wound on shaft II]. For the latter purpose, a hinged dog 24 is mounted upon the top of the lower sash adjacent each side thereof and in position to engage the adjacent side of the frame F. Each dog is normally engaged with the frame by means of a spring 25, and the adjacent rope 22 is extended freely through the dog as at 2B outwardly of its pivot. The arrangement is such that when the ropes 22 are wound upon shaft H) the pull on said ropes acts to swing the dogs upwardly out of engagement with the frame so as to permit the lower sash to be raised. Also, the arrangement is such that as soon as the ropes 22 are slackened the dogs 23 will engage the frame and prevent raising of the lower sash. After passing through the dogs 25, the ropes 22 may be suitably anchored as by connecting the ends thereof at a point between the dogs as at 21.

Attached to and adapted to be wound upon the rear or outer shaft to are sash suspension ropes 28 that are extended through the mount M and the top member of frame F and connected to the top of the upper sash S adjacent opposite sides of the latter. The ropes 28 are freely extended through eye members 29 secured to the upper corners of the upper sash and then extended inwardly from said eye members and connected together as at 30. Passed several turns about the pulley I1 is an endless operating cable 3| that is extended forwardly through the frame F and then depends at the inside of the adjacent side frame member to provide a pair of strands c and (I. At its inner side, the pulley H is formed with a circular series of ratchet teeth 32 concentric with shaft [3. A pivoted pawl 33 is normally engaged by gravity with the teeth 32 so as to prevent rotation of shaft I 3 in a direction wherein the ropes will unwind from shaft l3. At its forward end, the axle 34 of pawl 33 has a crank arm 35 provided at its free end with an eye 36 through which the strand d of cable 3| extends. The arrangement is such that when the strand d is pulled, crank arm 35 will be actuated to swing pawl 33 out of engagement with ratchet teeth 32 so as to allow the ropes 28 to unwind from shaft [3 and thereby permit the upper sash S to lower, the strand c being utilized to control the lowering movement of said upper sash. As soon as the pull is released on strand d, pawl 32 will gravitate into engagement with ratchet teeth 32 so as to prevent lowering of the upper sash due to unwinding of ropes 28, thereby holding the upper sash in any open position to which it may be adjusted and against further lowering. Raising of the upper sash is simply effected by pulling upon the strand 0 so as to rotate shaft [3 and unwind ropes 28 on the latter. At this time, the teeth 32 freely ratchet past pawl 33. In the case of each shaft, means is provided for normally preventing rotation of the associated shaft in one direction and consequently unwinding of the suspension ropes therefrom so as to lock the sash in adjusted open position against lowering, said means being releasable by pull on a certain strand of the operating cable to permit the sash to lower. Obviously, the means shown for the inner or front shaft may also be used for the rear or outer shaft, or the means shown for the rear or outer shaft may be used for the front or inner shaft. The two different means have been illustrated to simply show two of many possible modifications thereof.

By freely extending the ropes 22 and 28 through and under dogs 24 and through eyes 29, respectively, the sashes may shift laterally of said ropes to prevent binding of the sashes in the frame and insure free sliding thereof at all times. A rope 40 may be wound on drum [5 and attached to a weight 4| vertically movable in a side member of frame F to counterbalance the sash S and promote easy raising of the latter.

From the foregoing description, it is believed that the construction, operation and advantages of the present invention will be readily under stood and appreciated by those skilled in the art. Changes in details of construction and further modifications are contemplated, such as fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

Having described the invention what is claimed as new is:

1. In combination with a sash vertically slidable in a window frame having a hollow top member, a shaft journalled within the hollow member of the frame and extending from side to side of the latter, sash suspension ropes attached to and adapted to be wound upon opposite end portions of said shaft and connected to the top of the sash respectively near opposite sides of the latter, a pulley on one end of the shaft, an endless operating cable passed around said pulley and depending at the inside of a side member of the frame to provide a first strand adapted to be pulled to wind the sash suspension ropes upon said shaft and thereby raise the sash and a second strand to control unwinding of the sash suspension ropes and lowering of the sash, and means for normally preventing rotation of the shaft and unwinding of the suspension ropes therefrom so as to lock the sash in adjusted open position against lowering, said means being releasable by a pull on the second strand to permit the sash to lower.

2. The construction defined in claim 1, wherein said means comprises a pawl fixed to the frame, in combination with a mounting element for said one end of the shaft whereby the latter normally gravitates rearwardly toward the pawl for en gaging the pulley with the pawl and provides for movement of the pulley away from the pawl upon pulling said second strand.

3. The construction defined in claim 1, wherein said means comprises ratchet teeth on the inner side face of said pulley and a laterally swingable pivoted pawl normally engaged with said ratchet teeth, said pawl having a crank arm provided with any eye through which said second strand passes so that a pull on the second strand will act to swing said pawl laterally inward out of engagement with said ratchet teeth.

4. The construction defined in claim 1, in combination with spring pressed dogs mounted on the upper corners of the sash and yieldably swung downwardly into engagement with opposite sides of the frame to prevent raising of the sash, said sash suspension ropes being operatively engaged with said dogs whereby Winding of said sash suspension ropes upon the shaft acts to swing the dogs upwardly out of engagement with the frame.

5. The construction defined in claim 1, wherein said shaft is extensible, and an extensible mount for said shaft. 1

6. The construction defined in claim 1, wherein the sash is slidably connected to the ropes to permit lateral movement of the sash relative to said ropes and prevent binding of the sash in the frame. 7

CHARLES E. FULLER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

